"People were really angry about the Sonics leaving, so having the Sonics back is going to make a lot of people happy," said Seattle resident Agasthya Ypadhya.

The Sonics played in Seattle from 1967 to 2008, when they relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder.

During their 41 seasons in Seattle, the Sonics played at Key Arena, a 17,000-seat facility built -- along with the city's landmark Space Needle and monorail line.

The Sonics' previous owners and the NBA said Key Arena had become outdated, but the community resisted investing public monies to undertake a major renovation.

"I was crying. I was pissed," said Cynthia Repsher, a former employee at Key Arena, who said she lost her job after the team left.

Repsher said she would prefer to see a team other than the Kings relocate to Seattle, but said she was not yet convinced any team was coming.

"I want to see it in writing on paper. Not just money. Money talks, but it doesn't say anything until it's in writing," said Repsher.

When asked if she had any message for the people of Sacramento, Repsher responded, "My condolences."

Sonics fans' hopes started to rise last February when Chris Hansen, a wealthy, San Francisco-based hedge-fund manager, announced plans to build a $490 million arena near the city's current baseball and football stadiums.

"I don't think I entered office thinking this opportunity would happen. We have to be really grateful to Chris Hansen for being willing to invest so much," said Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn.

Hansen's group is expected to pitch in $290 million in private investment toward the arena, along with helping to pay for transportation improvements in the area around the stadiums.

The remaining $200 million in public financing would be paid back with rent money and admissions taxes from the arena, and if that money falls short, Hansen would be responsible for making up the rest.

Other investors in the proposed arena include Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer and two members of the Nordstrom department store family.

A message left Wednesday by KCRA 3 at Hansen's San Francisco office was not returned.

Key Arena is currently home to the WNBA's Seattle Storm, Seattle University's men's basketball team and the Rat City Rollergirls, according to the facility's website.

Eric Howie, who manages Sport Restaurant and Bar, said business near the arena has fallen off sharpy since the Sonics' departure.

"We were one of the few fortunate businesses in the area to keep moving forward," said Howie.

Howie said that basketball season has gone from being the bar's busiest time of year to its slowest.

He said that the bar's proximity to the Space Needle and the tourists it draws were the only things that have allowed his business to stay open.

When asked what he would suggest businesses located near Sacramento's Sleep Train Arena should do if the Kings leave, Howie smiled and said, "Build a Space Needle."